The Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Korea SMEs and Startups Distribution Agency announced Wednesday that they have selected Mokpo Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (Mokpo MBC) and the Chungnam Economic Promotion Agency as the new implementing organizations for "Sodam Square."
Sodam Square — meaning "a space that carries the stories and products of small business owners" — is a regional digital transformation (DX) hub infrastructure designed to help small merchants gain digital competitiveness amid a rapidly changing retail environment. Seven centers are currently operating in Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Jeonbuk, Gangwon, Gwangju and Chungbuk, serving as outposts to lower digital entry barriers for small business owners.
This open call exclusively targeted non-capital regions where digital infrastructure is lacking. Through multi-faceted evaluations including financial assessments, on-site inspections and presentation reviews, the two regions with the strongest support infrastructure and operational capabilities for local small merchants were selected. Mokpo MBC and the Chungnam Economic Promotion Agency will sequentially open starting in October after completing studio and professional equipment installation and space remodeling. The selected organizations will receive 1 billion won in government funding to provide hands-on support across the entire process of online market development, including digital content production, e-commerce channel onboarding and merchandising consulting tailored to local characteristics.
Mokpo MBC plans to form a consortium with the Jeonnam Information and Culture Industry Promotion Agency and Namdo Market to build a sustainable commerce ecosystem for small merchants in the Jeonnam region. The organization will remodel the Mokpo MBC building and the first floor of the nearby Bohae Shopping Center to establish dedicated infrastructure totaling 714 square meters. It will also offer customized programs based on digital proficiency levels and various Jeonnam-specialized programs, including the creation of Jeonnam tour package products.
The Chungnam Economic Promotion Agency will collaborate with Baekseok University, Cafe24 (042000.KQ) and Lotte Shopping (023530.KS) to build dedicated infrastructure totaling 715 square meters in Dujeong-dong, Cheonan. The agency plans to deploy specialized personnel including professors in related fields, merchandisers, IT experts and equipment operation producers to provide on-site support for small merchants. It will also focus on developing local brands from regional resources such as Geumsan ginseng and Seocheon gamtae (brown seaweed).
Each Sodam Square will be equipped with state-of-the-art multi-studios capable of live commerce streaming, product detail page editing rooms to maximize product appeal, digital marketing training facilities and shared office spaces. All facilities will be available free of charge to any small business owner.
"Through this new selection, we have established a 'growth engine' that will enable small merchants outside the capital region to emerge as key players in the digital era," said Lee Tae-sik, CEO of the Korea SMEs and Startups Distribution Agency. "We will concentrate our organizational capabilities to ensure that Sodam Square serves as a digital catalyst for revitalizing local economies, leading to increased sales and strengthened market competitiveness for small business owners."
